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Ask an Eye M.D. Answer Archive

Question:What are the symptoms of an eye aneurysm and how is it repaired?

Answer:This depends upon the location of the aneurysm. An aneurysm is a swelling of a vessel, usually an artery, which carries the risk of bursting and bleeding either on the surface of the eye (rare) or on the retina (very uncommon). They are usually asymptomatic and only are detected on a routine examination which discovers them as an incidental finding, as they cause no symptoms unless located near the center of vision. Treatment is controversial as the usual treatment—laser occlusion—can lead to bleeding at that time. They can be surrounded by laser burns which lessens the risk of bleeding. This should be discussed with a retinal specialist. Some aneurysms are associated with vascular anomalies in other parts of the body so these need exploration as well if you are found to have a retinal aneurysm.